Wednesday 6 November 2013

Plum Anna dress

I held off blogging this week in the hope I could photograph my finished dress on, but due to the absence of my photographer (Dan) and lack of ability to work out the self-timer function on my camera I'm afraid I'll have to make due with shots on my dummy.  Anyway here it is my finished Anna Dress

 
It does look better on, but as you can probably tell it fits like a glove.   No opportunity for any large meals in here!


 
I was really chuffed with the invisible zip, which you can hardly see at all.

 
A shot of the inside, the bodice has a facing rather than being lined.

 
 
 For the hem, I just turned under a 1/2 inch hem.

Overall the pattern is pretty straightforward.   It is Handmade by London's Anna Pattern.  I cut a size 12 which is my usual bought dress size, but it could probably do with a little more ease.   I didn't make any other changes   The instructions are really clear and comprehensive, and with a cotton fabric I think it would be pretty straightforward.  However, this  fabric wasn't easy to sew, its silk satin charmeuse.  I bought 3 metres for £21 and I have at least a metre left to make a blouse.  It feels gorgeous, but as you can guess slipped around a lot!  So although the dress isn't my usual style I do like it and it should be quite versatile.

I've also been making bound button holes on the New Look jacket I'm making.  I enjoyed making these, quite therapeutic.


 
I followed Gertie's instructions and the pattern for the jacket is also from the book.

 
 
Can't believe I didn't photograph the finished button holes, but I will show them when the jacket is completed, I'm quite excited with it so far.

Like a lot of the country Cumbria is raining nearly every day, but when we did get some sun over half term (one day) it was lovely.

 
 
 
 

I just had three days off at half term and didn't really do much other than some sewing, knitting and watching a few films etc.  Lets hope we get a lot more cold but sunny days!

6 comments:

  1. Your Anna dress is gorgeous! I have bought some lovely crepe to make a full length one for a Christmas party - I love the fit of this pattern. Well done on the bound button holes too, I have not attempted these yet and I have been sewing nearly 30 years!!

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    1. Thanks Sarah, would love to see your full length one - hopefully I will be wearing this to a Christmas party (so long as I don't eat too many mince pies)

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  2. What a stunning dress. I can't get over how tiny your waist must be! That is why you suit this vintage style of dress so well - I would look pregnant in this. I can only imagine how much that satin slipped around while you worked on it. Well done for keeping it in check! x

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    1. I think it isn't really this small though as you can see by my next post. Don't know how I ended up this snug when I made a muslin! x

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  3. The dress looks fabulous. You must get Dan to take a photo of you wearing it when he's home! Looking forward to seeing the finished jacket too. Jilly

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    1. Thanks Jilly, photo already up, however, this is one time when I think it looked better on the model. I'm loving my jacket so far though! We must meet up soon!

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